Salinas Tournament, June 21st - 22nd

 

Saturday, June 21st

San Jose Quicksilver 12   vs.   Alameda Blaze Red 0 

The Blaze opened the seeding round of the tournament in scorching hundred degree heat playing just a step slow, not quite reaching slow hit grounders and short pop flies.  The Blaze threatened in every inning, and wasted a bases loaded, no out opportunity in the second.  Sydney Lewis, Lindsi Tu, and Emma Fraser had the Blaze hits, while every other hard hit ball was right at a Quicksilver defender.

Alameda Blaze Red 2   vs.  Gonzales Rampage 1

The Blaze came back strong in their second game, playing almost flawless defense.  Centerfielder Elizabeth Ahrens set the tone with a running shoestring catch on the leadoff hitter.  Shortstop Darby Nordin made a nice running catch behind third base to rob another Rampage hit.  After a long lightning storm delay, the Blaze broke open a scoreless game in the fourth inning with a string of hits by Nordin, Ahrens, Lexus Rawlyk and Alexis Konstantino to take a 2-0 lead.  Sydney Lewis nearly added to the lead by belting a triple to the fence in the fifth inning, but was stranded on third.  The Rampage came back with one unearned run in the bottom of the fifth, but the Blaze defense came up big again to seal the victory.  Pitcher Kelly Hosokawa was brilliant, throwing a one hitter, giving up only a bunt single.  She struck out five and walked only one.

Cabrillo Crushers 11 vs. Alameda Blaze Red 2    

The Blaze dropped the final seeding round game in a game shortened due to the earlier lightning storm.  The Blaze took an early 2-0 lead on Emma Fraser’s single, Alexis Konstantino’s double, and an RBI single from Sophia Macias. The wheels fell apart on the Blaze in the next inning as the Crushers brought 9 runs across on a series of fielding miscues and walks, sandwiched around a few solid hits.  The game was shortened due to earlier lengthy lightning delays before the Blaze could attempt a comeback.

Sunday, June 22nd

Cabrillo Crushers 9 vs. Alameda Blaze Red 0  

The Blaze started elimination play with a rematch against the number two tournament seed.  The Crushers’ number one pitcher held the Blaze to just one hit by Darby Nordin, and no Blaze runner got past second in the game.  There were a few defensive highlights for the Blaze, including another running catch by centerfielder Elizabeth Ahrens and two nice scoops by third baseman Lexus Rawlyk to nip the quick Crusher batters at first.